Judges 9:46 Explained in Context

Verse 42. ⁴² And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

Verse 43. ⁴³ And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.

Verse 44. ⁴⁴ And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

Verse 45. ⁴⁵ And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

Verse 46. ⁴⁶ And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

Verse 47. ⁴⁷ And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

Verse 48. ⁴⁸ And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

Verse 49. ⁴⁹ And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.